I suspect that not many console players know but there is a game from 2002 which uses system similar to new Nintendo casual player friendly invention.

This game is famous among PC MMO players for it's elaborate leveling mechinism and truly impresive range of opponents and equipment while still mantaining the huge blue ocean strategy appeal.

I'd like to present you:

PROGRESS QUEST

http://www.progressquest.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_Quest

unfortunaly since it's so old it uses dated graphics but as we all know only gameplay matters

gameplay video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W2DyOWPbAA

very interesting review:

http://flakmag.com/misc/progressquest.html

So quoting from the review:

So with RPGs getting more and more boiled down, where does it end? How streamlined is too streamlined?

I played PQ and fully enjoyed it

Nintendo's approach allows each player to play the game as he/she wants.

Period.

Exactly the same -- except that Progress Quest was a parody/joke and Nintendo's system is meant as a teaching tool/helping aid.

Plus, I doubt Nintendo games would have you executing Cub Scouts.

Mike from Morgantown

Those Cub Scouts are dangerous! They'll pull your head right off and feed off the juices gushing from your neck hole. Just sayin, you gotta put em down as fast as possible.

We will know when they've gone too far. They almost did with Wii Music, but that was more people misunderstanding the point (the game was all about personal taste. You won when you, personally, felt you had acheived something)